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Rare Earth Ponds Burst in Houaphanh, Villages Halt River Use Pending Inspections

Village authorities along the Nam Vaen and Nam Xam rivers have told residents to stop using river water after two rare earth mining ponds in Houaphanh burst on 1 November and released chemical wastewater into the Nam Vaen River. According to the 3-November notice, residents of Meuangvaen, Nakao, and Nakhoun...

Muddy Nam Song River Raises Public Doubts Over Official Explanation

Vang Vieng’s Nam Song River has been muddy for weeks, but many residents are...

Laos Revokes Import Licences of Six Vehicle Companies

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has revoked the import licences of six vehicle-importing...

Laos Inflation Eases to 7.7 Percent as Electricity Costs Remain High

Laos’ inflation edged down to 7.7 percent in October from 7.8 percent in September,...

Laos to Raise Private Sector Minimum Wage to LAK 3.4 Million from January 2027

Laos will raise the minimum monthly pay for private sector workers to LAK 3.4...

Russian Man Faces Deportation After Obscene Act on Phuket Road Goes Viral

Thai social media went abuzz after a video surfaced showing a man and a Thai woman engaging in obscene behavior on the back of...

Thai Authorities Seize Over 14,000 Items of Illegal Cosmetic Silicone, Unregistered Medicines

On 19 September, Thai authorities seized over THB 8 million (approximately USD 251,000) worth of illegal cosmetic products in Bangkok. The seizure included more than...

Thai Authorities Arrest Lao National, Seize Over 2,200 Rounds of Guns

On 15 September, they arrested three Lao nationals in Khon Kaen for working illegally on tourist visas during a nationwide crackdown. In the first case,...

One in Three Girls in Laos Married Before 18, UNICEF Reports

One in three girls in Laos is married before 18, making it one of the highest child marriage rates in the region, UNICEF reports. Despite...

Nepal Protesters Set Parliament Ablaze as PM Quits Kathmandu, Nepal

By Paavan MATHEMA/AFP - Nepali demonstrators set parliament ablaze on Tuesday while the veteran prime minister quit, as a "Gen Z" protest movement sparked...

Thai Nationals Arrested for Drug Trafficking in Laos, 800,000 Pills Seized

Vientiane provincial authorities have arrested two Thai nationals in connection with a major drug trafficking case involving 800,000 methamphetamine pills. According to a report released...